Measuring and dispensing device



April 3, 1956 w, BRHDGE 2,740,560

MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed 001;- 15, 1952 Q 26 g 30 LINVENiBR. 33w. BRID a BY $1314. f -w fiT R f MEASURING AND DISPENSINGDEVICE Edward W. Bridge, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 15, 1952,Serial No. 314,910

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-308) This invention relates to an improvement in adispensing device, and more particularly adapted to filling cans with ameasured quantity of material from a stationary hopper.

The invention consists in providing a hopper with a reciprocatingmeasuring cup, which collects a quantity of material from the hopper anddischarges the material to a spout on the hopper for delivery of thematerial to cans disposed beneath the spout.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts which will be described hereinafter and pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a view partly in elevation and vertical section illustratingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a detail top plan view; and

Figure 3 is a detail view in vertical section of the measuring cup.

The invention is adaptable for use with can filling and closingmachines, wherein the hopper would be filled to a suitable height withvegetables, fruits or other articles. The hopper 10 is shown cylindricalin shape, but other configurations may be employed, and is provided witha sloping bottom 11. The bottom 11 at lowest portion and adjacent thewall of the hopper is provided with a circular opening 12. Connected tothe bottom 11 and encircling the opening 12 is a cylinder 13 which isattached to the bottom by screw bolts 14. The hopper is supported at adesired elevation on standards 15.

Arranged on the inner wall of the hopper 10 are two arcuate shapedflanges 16, 16 which extend from the bottom 11 to the upper peripheraledge of the hopper providing a semi-circular guide way therebetween. Theflanges are so spaced from each other as to encompass or encircle aportion of the opening 12 in the bottom 11, so that the inner walls ofthe flanges 16 are in alinement with the opening 12 and inner wall ofthe cylinder 13. A discharge opening 18 is formed at the upper portionof the wall of the hopper between the flanges 16, and a spout 19 isconnected to the outer wall of the hopper 10 to receive the materialdischarged through the discharge opening 18. A platform 20 is providedbeneath the spout 19 for cans 22 to be filled. Brackets 23 are connectedto the wall of the hopper for supporting the platform.

Mounted in the cylinder 13 is a hollow cylindrical piston 26 which isadapted to be reciprocated therein and between the guide flanges 16 ofthe hopper 11. The piston 26 is provided intermediate its length with apartition 27, which divides the piston and forms a bottom for a cup likereceptacle 28 at the upper or outer portion of the piston.

The front wall of the piston 26 and of the cup receptacle 28 is providedwith an arcuate-shaped outlet opening 30 adapted to be brought intoregistry with the discharge opening 18 in the front wall of the hopper10 to discharge the contents of the cup 28. The outlet opening 2,740,560Fatented Apr. 3, 1956 30 is normally closed by the walls of the cylinder13 and hopper 10.

Mounted on the partition bottom 27 is a false bottom consisting of twosemi-circular members or segments 32 and 33. The upper surface of themembers or segments is downwardly inclined or sloping as at 34 toconform to the contour or slope of the bottom 11 of the hopper 10. Thesegment 32 of the false bottom is capable of vertical adjustment withrespect to segment 33, to change the capacity of the cup 28, to conformto the size and capacity of the can 22 to be filled. The upper end ofthe cup 28 and piston 26 is cut ofi on a bias or at an inclination in adownward direction from the front wall of the piston 26, as at 36, sothat as the cup 28 is filled through the opening 12 in the hopper bottom11, the cup 28 and piston 26 are moved through the hopper 10 to thedischarge opening 18 the contents of the cup will spill off into thehopper and level off the contents of the cup 28. The segment 32 isprovided with a vertical screw threaded opening 37 extending upwardlyfrom the bottom thereof, and in which an adjusting screw 38 has screwthreaded engagement. The segment 32 is adapted to be adjustablypositioned within the cup 28 for regulating the capacity of the cup, bythe adjusting screw 38, which when screwed into the opening 37 so thatthe outer end thereof is flush with the bottom of the segment 32, thesegment will rest on the bottom or partition 27, and the cup 28 can befilled to its capacity. However, when the cup 28 is to be filled to lessthan its capacity the screw 38 is moved outwardly with respect to thebottom of the segment 32 and the outer end of the screw will rest on thepartition 27 and support the segment above the partition 27. The segment33 is removably supported against lateral movement on the partition orbottom 27 by a pin or dowel 35 on the partition 27 which is received ina hole 41 formed in the bottom of the segment 33. The hole 41 isdisposed off center with respect to center line of segment 33, so thatsegment 33 is held against turning in the cup 28, and segment 33 willtherefore prevent segment 32 from turning. This method of mounting thesegments 32 and 33 on the bottom or partition 27 permits of their easyremoval for the purpose of cleaning.

A lever 42 is fulcrumed on a base 43, and the longer portion 44 of thelever is provided with a cam surface or bearing 45 at its outer endwhich is engaged by a roller 46 journaled on the bottom of the piston26. The short end 48 of the lever 42 is provided with a roller 49journalled therein which is in engagement with a cam 50 journalled on astandard 51. A handle 53 is connected to a shaft 54 of the cam 50 forrotating it, although other power means may be employed. On rotating thecam 50 by the handle 53 the lever 42 is oscillated for raising andlowering the piston 26 and cup 28 in the cylinder 13 and hopper l0, andin its uppermost position bringing the outlet opening 30 of the cup 28into registry with the discharge opening 18 of the hopper 10 todischarge the contents of the cup 28 into the spout 19 and can 22. Theopening 30 is located in the front wall of the cup and extends upwardlyfrom the stationary segment 33 so that the contents of the cup will bereadily discharged into the spout, and the sloping upper surfaces 34 ofthe segments being in the direction of the opening 30 insures that thecontents are discharged through the opening 30.

The roller 46 is mounted on the bottom of the piston 26 so that its axisis offset with respect to the center line of the piston and disposedrearwardly of the outlet opening 30. The roller 46 travels or tracks oneway at all times up and down on the straight lever cam 45 and maintainsthe outlet opening 30 of the piston 26 positioned to always makeregistry with the discharge opening 18.

The level of the contents of the hopper 10 is below the bottom of thedischarge outlet 18 thereof, and the cam 50 is provided with a fiatdwell between the points A and B to allow the contents of the cup 28 tolevel ofi after the top or upper portion of the cup passes above theupper surface or level of the contents of the hopper 10, by the inclinedsurface or end 36 of the cup 28, and momentarily interrupting the travelof the piston in its upper movement in bringing the outlet opening 30into registry with discharge opening 18.

What I claim is:

1. In a dispensing device, comprising a hopper having a dischargeopening in the wall thereof, a bottom in said hopper having an openingtherein disposed below said hopper discharge opening, a cylinderconnected to said bottom and surrounding said bottom opening, a hollowpiston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, two semi-circularsegments received in said piston and arranged in juxtaposition to formthe bottom of said piston, means for retaining one of said segmentsagainst movement, means for adjusting said other segment with respect tosaid fixed segment for varying the capacity of said piston, said pistonhaving an outlet opening in the wall thereof above said segmental bottomadapted to register with said hopper discharge opening, and means forreciproeating said piston in said cylinder and said hopper.

2. In a dispensing device, comprising a hopper having a dischargeopening in the wall thereof, a bottom in said hopper having an openingtherein disposed below said hopper discharge opening, a cylinderconnected to said bottom and surrounding said bottom opening, a hollowpiston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder and havingcommunication with said hopper, a partition located in said piston, twosemi-spherical segments mounted on said partition and arranged injuxtaposition to form the bottom of said piston, means removablyconnecting one of said segments at said partition for retaining saidsegment against rotation with respect to said other segment, means onsaid partition for vertically adjusting said other segment within saidpiston and with respect to said first mentioned segment for varying thecapacity of said piston, said piston having an outlet opening in thewall thereof above said segmental bottom adapted to be brought intoregistry with said hopper discharge opening upon the reciprocation ofsaid piston, and means for reciprocating said piston in said cylinderand said hopper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,520,017 Denton Dec. 23, 1924 2,311,347 Orstrom Feb. 16, 1943 2,382,369Smith Aug. 14, 1945

